Improvement in grain and grass harvesters



yPATENT OFFICE.

.JOHN H. MANNY, lon RocKroRD, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT iN cRAiN AND GRASS HARVESTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. [2,825, dated May 8, 1855.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN H. MANNY, of

Rockford, iii the `county ot' Vinnebago and State of Illinois, have invented a new and usei i'ul Improvement'in Reapingand Mowing Machines, ot' which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings of the sarne,wbich make part of thespecitication, and in which- Figure 1 `represents a view in perspective ot' one of my harvesting-machines with a removable auxiliary divider applied thereto, which is the subject ot' the present patent. Fig. 2 represents a view in perspective of the'auxiliary divider detached Jfrom the iixed divider and turned bottom uppermost. Fig. 3 is a view upon an enlarged scale ot' theleft trout corner of ythe machine to show more clearly the manner in which the fixed and auxiliary dividers are constructed and connected. Fig. trepresents a tran verse section ofthe same at line x .r and Fig. 5 represents a view of a modified form of my triangular trame, (patented September 23,

1851., and the patent for which was reissuedl January 2, 1855,) to which the iixed and auxiliary dividers are applied.

The fixed divider A is ot peculiar construction; but as it is fully described in Letters Patentgranted `to me for it on the 17th day ot October, 1854, antedated June l5, 1854, it is unnecessary here to repeat the description in detail. This divider projects about twelve inchesin advance of the finger-bar, and is about four inches wide, being fully adequate to the division of grass, and even grain of moderate growth, which is not lodged, and wherecver this divider will answer the purpose, one longer, wider, or more extensive would be in jurious, as the divider tends to break down the straw in proportion to its size. Hence the smallest divider that will effect the necessary separation is the best, other things being equal, as it will break down the least grain. It however` happens that grain is often lodged and entangled in such manner that a wider and more complete separation ot' that which is to be out from that which is to beleft standingis necessary, even at theexpense of breakin gdown thestalks considerably by a too great bending or deflection of them to one side by reason of` theincreased width of the divider, which is necessary under these circumstances. 1n order to supply the machine with this more extensive divider when necessary, without being compelled to use it when it would be a disadvantage to do so, I have contrived the auxiliary divider Q,.to be applied to the small fixed divider F,which auxiliary divideris placed cned by a bolt and thiimb-nut, C, or in some other way by which it can be conveniently detached and reapplied, as required. Thelarge auxiliary divider Qmay be made of the form represented in the drawings,which consists of a rib or board, @,which is fitted to the top and the point of the fixed divider, as represented, and stands on edge, anda wedge-shaped board, r, attached by one side to the upper edge-of the rib, the points of the two coinciding and being shaped and adapted to each other in such manner that when they are connected they will form a pointed end, substantially as represented, that will project beyond vthe point of the fixed divider and penetrate between the stalks of grain and Wedge them apart and divide them by detlecting or bending them laterally toward and from the swath.

lf it should be preferred to give to either the iixed .or removabledividers, or to both, a different form, that can readily be done, as my invention is irrespective of the form ot' either, provided the large or removable one can be adapted to the small or fixed one,'so that they can be connected and disconnected at will.

The horizontal wedge or board r is Iitted at its rear end to the frontend of a shield or guardboard, h, which overlies the wheel or runner at the outer or left end of the machine to prevent the cut grain from falling over the end of the platform or becoming entangled with the wheel or ruimer. This guard-board will be more or less inclined toward the platform, according to the height of the wheel and the angle which the left end ot the platform forms Awith the iinger-bar. The angle of the shield board will also be varied according to the particular views of each constructor, and as it is desirable that there should not be any abrupt break on the side next the platform, between `the rear end of the wedge and the front end of the guard-board h, it will be necessary to incline the edge transversely in order to meet -the board properly, or else it will be necessary to insert an intermediate connecting-piecewith the proper twist or shape to make a smooth over and fits upon the smaller one, ands fastconnection between the two, in which case I should prefer to make the Wedge horizontal transversely as well as longitudinally, because it would not require as Wide a board to make a Wedge capable of opening or dividing the grain a given width, as it' the board were inclined. The operation and effect of the wedge as a divider would, however, be the same, Whether inclined transversely or not.

A wedge, et, placed horizontally7 in both direct-ions and connected by an intermediate twisted piece, b, with an inclined guard7 c, is

vshown in Figs. 6 and 7.

This double divider has a peculiar adaptation t0 my improved l1arvester,which is so constructed that by slight preparation and adjustments it is adapted equally well to eithermowing or reaping, as a large or extensive divider would be veryY cumbersome and objectionable in various ways when the machine is used as for mowing grass,when the fixed divideris all that is required.

In transporting the machine to a distance it can be packed up more completely by re.

moving the large divider and fastening it to the platform.

What I claim as my invention7 and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- The combination ot' a removable auxiliary divider with a fixed divider, substantially as herein set forth.

In testimony whereof' I have hereunto subscribed my name.

JOHN H. MANNY. Witnesses:

' P. H. WATSON,

F. G. DE FONTAINE. 

